TWO men in their 50s have been arrested in connection with the garda probe into a horror explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal that claimed ten lives.
Gardai confirmed that the arrests were made this morning as part of the investigation into the blast at a petrol station on October 7, 2022.
Horror scene at Creeslough after tragic loss of 10 livesPA:Press Association
PAThe victims were aged from five up to 59[/caption]
Emergency services working at the service station scenePA:Press Association
The blast ripped through the busy service station after 3pm on Friday October 7, 2022PA
Gardai said the two men had been arrested for “alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997”.
They are being held at separate Donegal garda stations.
The victims ranged in age from five to 59.
James O’Flaherty, Leona Harper, Martin McGill, Hugh Kelly, Jessica Gallagher, Martina Martin, Catherine O’Donnell and her son James Monaghan, Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe all lost their lives.
A garda spokesman said: “The investigation into the fatal explosion at a building complex in Creeslough, Co Donegal continues, co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an Incident Room is established under the direction of a Garda Senior Investigating Officer.
“The investigation continues to be led by local Gardaí in Donegal Division, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and other agencies, including the Health & Safety Authority & the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities.
“This morning, Friday, 22nd March 2024, investigating Gardaí have arrested two males (aged in their 50s) for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
“Both men are currently detained under the provisions of section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at separate Garda stations in County Donegal.”
Grieving relatives and devastated locals marked the first anniversary of the horror blast last October.
The sound of a bell tolling ten times marked the loss of those ten precious lives.
Local priest Fr John Joe Duffy said: “It is a day of sadness, of acute sadness but a day of personal reflection, a day of fond memories of loved ones who were lost in this tragedy.
“The last year has been a difficult journey, a journey of mourning, a journey of healing.
“A journey of learning to cope, particularly for those from whom this tragedy took ten beautiful souls and for those also who were injured in body and for all of us who were injured in mind.
“The journey of recovery will continue for all of us for a long time to come.
“Unlike most journeys we set out on in life, this journey of Creeslough we know neither the length nor the duration of the road ahead. But we know that we will travel it together, each of us together, linked together.”
Detectives investigating the cause of the explosion travelled to both England and Spain to interview people.
A Garda source said: “This is without doubt one of the most widespread Garda investigations ever conducted and it has to be.
“Ten people lost their lives and we need to find a definitive answer to what caused this blast.”
The remnants of the blast site were torn down in late October 2022, with a specialist team overseeing the scene being “made safe”.
A garda spokesperson said at the time: “The scene of the explosion is currently undergoing a make-safe process and experts from a number of agencies stand ready to assist with the Garda investigation into the cause of the blast at Creeslough.
“The scene investigation is being co-ordinated by Garda National Technical Bureau crime scene managers who are highly experienced post-blast investigation experts.
“Experts from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the Health and Safety Authority are also providing valuable assistance and expert guidance on site, while independent specialists in gas and oil installation failures/explosions have also been brought in to assist.
“An Garda Síochána retains primacy of the scene with a crime scene manager from the Garda National Technical Bureau overseeing all forensic and expert activities on site.”
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